Sant Vicenç de Castellet: Castle, River and Trails

Sant Vicenç de Castellet bears its historical starting point in its name: Castellet Castle is considered the origin of Sant Vicenç de Castellet and gave its name to the municipality and the municipal area. The Nostra Senyora de Castellet chapel was built next to the castle in the 11th century and developed into a Marian shrine in the 17th century. In the northern area of the Castellet complex, the original castle tower has been documented; it can be dated to the 9th or 10th century. The complex also includes a large rectangular hall with diaphragm arches, while four rooms lie to the west, where parts of the original floor have been preserved. The local limestone is hard, can be polished and then acquires a surface resembling marble; it quickly became popular and was known as „Pedra Sant Vicenç“.

Culture and history

In the second half of the 19th century, the first industrial businesses were established in Sant Vicenç de Castellet, using the water power of the Llobregat. The Fira del Vapor depicts everyday life in Sant Vicenç de Castellet at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, when the railway and textile factories were powered by steam. Historical street scenes, traditional crafts, a food and handicraft market, dancing and dance workshops recall the area’s industrialisation at the Fira del Vapor. The Ball de Gitanes of Sant Vicenç de Castellet has existed since 1907; the form maintained today originated in 1992. The Ball de Gitanes is a festival featuring dance and performance, celebrated at Pasqua Granada, also known as Segona Pasqua. The Ballada of the Ball de Gitanes begins with the dancers parading through the streets of Sant Vicenç de Castellet to Plaça de l’Ajuntament; during the final Galop, the various groups invite relatives and friends to take part. The Aplec de Vallhonesta is also known as Festa del Panellet and is celebrated every year on 1 May at the Romanesque hermitage of Sant Pere de Vallhonesta. The modernist heritage of Sant Vicenç de Castellet includes the monument to Anselm Clavé, which was inaugurated as a public fountain on 2 May 1920.

Discover further destinations at Veciana, Vilobí Del Penedès, Santa Coloma De Cervelló, Guardiola De Berguedà, Avinyó, Olèrdola, Montseny and Casserres.

Landscape

The Llobregat crosses Sant Vicenç de Castellet from north to south and forms an ecological link. A restored section of the left bank of the Llobregat offers opportunities for walking and observing nature just a few metres from the town centre. Sant Vicenç de Castellet belongs to the UNESCO Global Geopark Catalunya Central, which was established in 2011.

Routes

SL-C53 is a signposted circular hike of approximately two hours through the eastern part of the municipality of Sant Vicenç de Castellet, in the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac Natural Park. The church of Sant Pere de Vallhonesta is one of the route’s attractions. Route SL-C61 passes the inn, the farmhouse and the hermitage of Sant Jaume de Vallhonesta. Route SL-C61 starts and ends on the Camí de Vallhonesta at PQ 1+160. The Ruta dels Gronxadors Panoràmics de Montserrat is a circular route in the eastern part of the municipality of Sant Vicenç de Castellet and offers views of Montserrat. The Ruta Blava is a signposted, very easy urban circular route in Sant Vicenç de Castellet. The Ruta Lila is a signposted, very easy urban circular route in Sant Vicenç de Castellet. The Ruta Vermella is a signposted, very easy urban circular route in Sant Vicenç de Castellet. „Comerços en la memòria“ is an urban walk during which former shops and businesses that have had a lasting influence on Sant Vicenç de Castellet can be discovered with the help of QR codes. „Art, pedra i patrimoni“ is an urban walk whose central theme is the connection between Pedra de Sant Vicenç and the most important monuments and buildings of Sant Vicenç de Castellet.

Getting there

Sant Vicenç de Castellet can be reached via Renfe lines R4 and R12, as well as line R5 of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya. The stone bridge over the Llobregat connects the C-55 road with Sant Vicenç de Castellet. The Llobregat bridge is approximately 200 metres long and has two vehicle lanes and two pedestrian areas, separated from the central traffic area by a low iron railing. The C-16 motorway is connected to the C-55 via exit 41.

To the higher-level travel overview: Barcelona.